Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the foldable phone category and has officially announced a special edition of its latest book-style Galaxy Z Fold.
While the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an impressive iteration, the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition takes it a step further. Although the two devices share much of the same DNA, there are various key differences that set them apart.
Let’s take a closer look at three major distinctions between these two foldable flagships.
Display
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 already has impressive screen technology with a 6.3-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch main screen. These offer a good folding experience, but the relatively narrow cover screen raised our eyebrows.
The Z Fold Special Edition, however, solves this problem by offering larger screens. The cover screen extends to 6.5 inches, with a 21:9 aspect ratio, making it feel more like a traditional bar phone when folded.
This improvement significantly improves usability when using the folded phone.
Additionally, the main display increases to 8 inches, with a 10:9 aspect ratio, giving users more screen real estate for tasks like multitasking and media consumption.
This change makes the Special Edition a better choice for those who favor larger screens and a more expansive foldable experience.
Design
While both models retain Samsung’s premium build quality, the Z Fold Special Edition is significantly thinner and lighter.
When folded, the Special Edition is just 10.6mm thick, compared to the Z Fold 6’s 12.1mm, and it measures just 4.9mm when unfolded.
Additionally, the special edition weighs 236g, which is 3 grams lighter than the standard Z Fold 6, which weighs 239g.
However, this sleek, slim design comes with a trade-off
However, this sleek, slim design comes with a tradeoff: the Z Fold Special Edition doesn’t support the S Pen, a key feature for users who value Samsung’s stylus for productivity.
If S Pen support is important to you, the standard Z Fold 6 might be the better option.
Camera upgrades
The camera systems between the two models are surprisingly different.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera without autofocus, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.
Although efficient, this configuration does not bring major innovations for foldable photography.
The Z Fold Special Edition, on the other hand, brings significant improvements. It features a 200MP main camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), potentially offering a dramatic improvement in image quality and detail.
Additionally, the 12MP ultra-wide lens now has autofocus, improving versatility, especially for wide-angle shots. The telephoto and selfie camera setups remain similar, but the upgraded main and ultra-wide cameras make the special edition stand out among photography enthusiasts.
If taking high-quality photos is a priority, the Special Edition offers a major advantage over the standard model.
Other differences
In addition to major distinctions in display, design and cameras, the Z Fold 6 Special Edition also offers Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, an upgrade over Wi-Fi 6E found on the standard Z Fold 6 .
The special edition also comes with 16GB of RAM, compared to 12GB on the standard Z Fold 6.
This extra RAM could make a difference in heavy and demanding multitasking applications, giving the special edition a performance advantage.
Shared specifications
On top of that, both devices share many of the same basic features. Here are the specifications which remain the same on both models:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
- Storage: 512 GB (only option on Special Edition)
- Battery: 4400mAh with 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging
- Software: One UI 6.1 based on Android 14, with 7 years of software updates
- IP rating: IP48 water and dust resistance
- Speakers: Two stereo speakers
- Selfie cameras: 10Mp cover selfie camera and 4Mp under-screen selfie camera
- Rear cameras: Shared 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom
- Foldable display: 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support
- Wireless connectivity: 5G, Bluetooth 5.3
Pricing and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is widely available and starts at £1,799/$1,899. It is available for purchase in many regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom, through the Samsung website, Amazon, and various carriers.
However, the special edition Galaxy Z Fold 6 is currently exclusive to South Korea, priced at 2,789,600 KRW (approximately £1,654/$2,028). Although rumors suggest that it could be released in China as the Galaxy W25, it is unclear whether this model will be available in other regions like the UK or the US.
However, if this happens, we will update this section with regional pricing for the special edition.
Verdict
The Z Fold 6 offers global availability, supports S Pen, and delivers a refined foldable experience with excellent software support and features. It’s a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade to a high-end foldable that’s both functional and familiar.
On the other hand, the Z Fold Special Edition stands out with its larger screens, improved 200MP camera and slimmer, sleeker design, making it the ultimate foldable for users who want the best possible hardware .
However, it’s only available in Korea at the moment and the lack of S Pen support may be a turnoff for some.
For now, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the obvious choice for all Westerners who don’t want to wait for a phone that may never arrive. If you can get the Special Edition, it offers top-notch hardware and design upgrades that make it a tempting option.
If you think the Z Fold 6 is the phone for you, check out our guide to the best Z Fold 6 deals. You can also check how the competition stacks up with our guide to the best foldable phones.
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